A per-country cap is meant to prevent the over-representation of one or a handful of very populous countries in Canada.

Foreign applicants must prove they have a bank balance of at least 20,000 Canadian dollars, more than twice the earlier required amount, to qualify for Canadian study permits.

The number of students entering Canada has hit so high in the recent past that the Canadian government has cut down on the number of study permits issued this year.

Starting in September, international students in Canada can work off-campus for up to 24 hours a week, an increase from the current 20 hours.